The United Nations University Institute for Environment and Human Security (UNU-EHS) and the University of Bonn are accepting applications for their two-year Joint MSc in Geography of Environmental Risks and Human Security, starting in October 2027 in Bonn, Germany. Applicants from developing countries, including most African countries, can also apply for a fully funded DAAD EPOS scholarship.
Deadline: 31 October 2026, which is only days away. UNU-EHS lists the application period as 31 July to 31 October 2026 (“to be confirmed”). If you’re interested, prepare your documents now.
At a Glance
| Offered by | UNU-EHS and the Department of Geography, University of Bonn |
| Degree | MSc, two years (four semesters) |
| Location | Bonn, Germany |
| Language | English |
| Start | October 2027 |
| Scholarship | DAAD EPOS (full funding) for eligible applicants from developing countries |
| Deadline | 31 October 2026 |
About the Programme
The programme gives students the knowledge, strategies and tools to take an interdisciplinary approach to environmental risks, natural hazards and human security, with a strong focus on the Global South. Since 2013, 279 students from 46 countries have studied on it.
Fields covered include:
- Vulnerability, resilience and climate change adaptation
- Disaster management, disaster risk reduction and humanitarian response
- Development geography and human–nature relations
- Earth system science, geomorphology and socio-hydrology
- Qualitative and quantitative methods, GIS and remote sensing
- Risk management and governance, forecasting and prediction
There are 12 modules. Ten are taught in the first three semesters, followed by a compulsory internship of at least eight weeks and a master’s thesis. Students can join ongoing research projects and work closely with the UN system.
Benefits
- A joint degree from a United Nations University institute and the University of Bonn
- Study in Bonn, a German UN city that hosts many UN agencies
- Close links with international organisations, which suits careers in disaster risk reduction, humanitarian aid, climate research, food security and policy
- DAAD EPOS scholarship (for eligible candidates): full funding for the master’s, normally including a monthly stipend, travel costs and health insurance under DAAD’s terms
Eligibility: The Master’s Programme
- A bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in geography or a related field.
- Most of your courses must relate to:
- human geography and social sciences (space, society, development)
- science methodology and empirical research methods
- physical geography, geosciences or environmental sciences
- Not suitable for: engineering graduates, international relations graduates (unless their profile is strongly linked to environmental risks), or PhD students and PhD holders.
- English: proof is required, for example IELTS 6.5, TOEFL iBT 79, PTE Academic 67 or Duolingo 120. Having studied in English isn’t enough on its own, so most African applicants will need a test certificate.
Eligibility: The DAAD EPOS Scholarship
- You’re from an eligible developing country on the DAAD list, which includes most African countries.
- You have at least two years of relevant work experience after your bachelor’s, by the time you apply, for example with an NGO, a government body or a company.
- You graduated from your last degree no more than six years ago.
- You don’t already have a master’s in a similar field.
- You plan a career as a development practitioner, not in academia or a PhD.
Admission to the programme doesn’t guarantee an EPOS scholarship. EPOS selection happens between February and April.
Documents to Submit
Send everything as one PDF (max 8 MB) in this exact order:
- The signed online application confirmation
- A dated motivation letter (1–2 pages)
- A Europass CV (max 3 pages, dated)
- Degree certificate(s) and transcript(s), stamped by your university if you’re applying for EPOS
- Proof of English proficiency
- Up to two academic references (recommended)
- A copy of your passport
- Other relevant references (optional)
EPOS applicants also add: the signed DAAD EPOS checklist (signed by hand), the typed DAAD application form, a scholarship motivation letter, a reference from your current employer, and work certificates showing at least two years of experience with exact dates.
Separately: a writing sample in English answering: “How has your own academic or professional experience influenced the areas of focus you plan to pursue in your studies?”
Use proper scans. Phone photos saved as PDFs aren’t accepted.
How to Apply
- Read the programme page and FAQs on the UNU-EHS website.
- Complete the online application form.
- Combine your documents into one PDF in the required order and name it lastname.firstname.pdf.
- Email it, with your writing sample as a separate file, to [email protected] before 31 October 2026.
Official UNU-EHS programme page and application form
Tips
- Get your employer reference and work certificates now, with exact start and end dates. They’re the documents most likely to delay you.
- Make your motivation letter development-focused. DAAD funds future practitioners, not future academics.
- Book an English test immediately if you don’t have one. Duolingo results can arrive within days.
- Follow the document order exactly, as incomplete or disorganised packages are rejected.
